MULHERES DE IL

When we first started planning our Carnival pilgrimage, Maria Ache was determined to give us a full picture of the amazing blend of cultures that are part of Brazilian life. During our workshop of Tara and the Tarot she described the cultures of the rhythms that supported the different dances of the Arcana. Some were from the influence of African tribes that had been brought to the area by slave traders. Others were borrowed from the tribals that populated the jungles and savannas before the Portuguese conquistadors.

Woven around the days of carnival Maria arranged for us to participate in a two day workshop with "Mulheres De Ilu" (women of the drum). Five black women from the favelas of Sao Paulo led us through an experience of some of the female Orisha's of the Candomble religion.

We were guided to dance the stories and the special movements of four female Orishas. Each Orisha has its own rhythm, melody, movement, etc. Heat exhaustion kept some of us from dancing but we all enjoyed the stories, the music and the energy.

I was given three papers that describe some of the elements of what was presented to us in the form of story telling and dance class. We all had the opportunity to dance the stories and the special movements of the Orishas. Each Orisha has its own rhythm, melody, movement, etc. Heat exhaustion kept some of us from dancing but we all enjoyed the stories, the music and the energy.

It would have been a formidable job to try and put these writings into literary English so I have left them for the most part the way they were given to me unless I noticed some turn of phrase that would be misleading. We have found the Portuguese way with English to be charming and so I have left that for your enjoyment.

Sabira Christina who has been one of our guiding lights in Brazil was kind enough to write a paper describing something of the Candomble Religion. (http://www.taradhatu.org/ROAD/BR2003/orixas.html)

Isabel Themudo translated two papers from the Ilu Women describing their background and the stories of the Orishas that we danced. (http://www.taradhatu.org/ROAD/BR2003/ilu.html) and the stories of the Orishas that we danced. (http://www.taradhatu.org/ROAD/BR2003/orisha.html)

In the photo album you can see the three drummers, the story teller/dance teacher Miniwa, and their manager Beth. The Orisha doll we saw at Sugar Loaf depicts Oshun, the Goddess of the rivers, of fertility and joy. She is often seen with a mirror in her hand.

Anahata was happy to show Miniwa some of the footage we had taken of her dance. We loved studying once again in the same room that the Tara and Tarot workshop had been held in and were finally able to fulfill Aimee’s request for a group photo on the balcony.

Maria told us a story about the building ….. the city planners had decided to replace it with something modern. Some of the artists found out about this plan and the day the bulldozers arrived they found thousands of people surrounding the building refusing to allow them to tear it down.

Beijos e abracos

Prema and Anahata

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5. Mulheres de Ilu